Multiple use integrated circuit for embedded systems

Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a microcontroller core interconnected with a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface configurable as a PCI host/CPU bridge when the integrated circuit is used in embedded system applications and as a PCI device when the integrated circuit is used in a hosted application. In some cases, a radio media access controller is (MAC) interconnected to the microcontroller. Also, a forward error correction (FEC) coder/decoder (CODEC) coupled to the radio MAC may be provided. Such an FEC CODEC may be configured to provide Reed-Solomon coding/decoding. Preferably, one or more communication interfaces coupled to the microcontroller are provided, each being configured to allow for interconnection of the integrated circuit with external communication channels.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An integrated circuit comprising: 
       a configuration memory;  
       a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface;  
       an external bus interface; and  
       a general purpose, programmable, microcontroller core interconnected with the PCI interface, the external bus interface, and the configuration memory;  
       wherein the integrated circuit is configurable to operate as either a microcontroller and PCI host or as a PCI target device, responsive to a state of the configuration memory.  
     
     
       2. The integrated circuit of  claim 1  further comprising a radio media access controller (MAC) interconnected to the microcontroller. 
     
     
       3. The integrated circuit of  claim 2  further comprising a forward error correction (FEC) coder/decoder (CODEC) coupled to the radio MAC. 
     
     
       4. The integrated circuit of  claim 3  wherein the FEC CODEC is configured to provide Reed-Solomon coding/decoding. 
     
     
       5. The integrated circuit of  claim 1  further comprising one or more communication interfaces coupled to the microcontroller and each being configured to allow for interconnection of the integrated circuit with external communication channels. 
     
     
       6. The integrated circuit of  claim 5  further comprising a DMA controller coupled to the PCI interface, the external bus interface, the microcontroller, and the one or more communication interfaces. 
     
     
       7. The integrated circuit of  claim 6  wherein the DMA controller provides data transfers between the PCI interface, the external bus interface, and the one or more communication interfaces. 
     
     
       8. The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the external bus interface comprises one of an universal serial bus interface (USB), an Ethernet interface, or an HPNA interface. 
     
     
       9. The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the external bus interface comprises an extension of a control bus of the microcontroller. 
     
     
       10. The integrated circuit of  claim 1  further comprising a DMA controller coupled to the PCI interface, the external bus interface, and the microcontroller. 
     
     
       11. An integrated microcontroller comprising: 
       a communication circuit;  
       a PCI interface;  
       an external bus interface; and  
       a general purpose processor, wherein the microcontroller is configurable to operate in a first mode as a PCI target device, or in a second mode as a standalone processor and PCI host device.  
     
     
       12. The microcontroller of  claim 11  wherein the communication circuit comprises a network interface. 
     
     
       13. The microcontroller of  claim 11  wherein the network interface comprises an interface for a wireless network. 
     
     
       14. The microcontroller of  claim 11  wherein the external bus interface comprises one of an universal serial bus interface (USB), an Ethernet interface, or an HPNA interface. 
     
     
       15. The microcontroller of  claim 11  wherein the external bus interface comprises an extension of a control bus of the processor. 
     
     
       16. The integrated circuit of  claim 11  further comprising a DMA controller coupled to the PCI interface, the external bus interface, and the microcontroller. 
     
     
       17. The integrated circuit of  claim 11  further comprising a DMA controller coupled to the PCI interface, the external bus interface, the microcontroller, and the communication circuit. 
     
     
       18. The integrated circuit of  claim 17  wherein the DMA controller provides data transfers between the PCI interface, the external bus interface, and the communication circuit.